Saturday 31 December 2011

Wishing you all a...........



Hope you all have a happy, healthy 2012. 

I shall be back soon with pictures of lovely green, bakelite and vintage things :o)

Monday 19 December 2011

Christmas crafting!

Last December, I began what was meant to become a Christmas garland.  However, due to a rotten bout of flu that put pay to any knitting let alone personal crafting for a whole 6 weeks, (thank you to the patient customers who had to wait a little longer!) I had to admit defeat and pack the beginnings of the garland in my work box, where it has remained………until now!!

Taking advantage of some peace while we’re in Cornwall for a few days, I am determined to give it another go and get it hanging before Christmas Day!

So far, I’ve completed the stockings with my girls’ names on and one, nearly two, trees…….



Still to go are two more stockings and 1 more tree!  Armed with my paper templates, saved from last years failed attempt, a whole heap of felt, buttons and, a new addition to my craft collection, some little bells.......



I’m making it my mission to get it completed, even if it isn’t hung until 11.59pm of the 24th December!!

To all those waiting for their orders, don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten you and I’m still knitting, but sometimes you’ve got to give your hands a break ;o) 

Friday 9 December 2011

1940's Wartime Brooches

Inspired by a photograph in a post on Vintage Knitters blog, I thought I’d show you some of my wartime brooches. 



I’ve been collecting them for the past 4 years and although I only wear a very few of my most loved ones, I simply can't part with any of the others!  Most were given to me as gifts and I was surprised to find that I’ve amassed a collection of 50! 

My favourite one, the green one with the multi coloured spray, was picked up for just 50p at a car boot sale 3 years ago, I couldn’t believe it!!  However, they have recently become more popular and for the really decorative ones, I’ve seen dealers asking over £20 at antiques fairs – I’ve walked away empty handed from said stalls! 

I’ve never found any two to be exactly the same, but as you can see from the photographs below, a lot of them have the same central button or are of similar design.


Not my most favourite ones......

Argh! Couldn't believe someone painted the bottom central one silver! 


Like these ones a lot.....


Love these ones a lot - especially the little scottie who I've just noticed needs a good clean! :o)

My 50p bargain green one.....

Add caption

The one on the bottom centre has seen better days really :o(

Although they are defintely wartime brooches, their exact origins are questionable.  I’ve seen them described as being made by factory girls using the old bits of electrical wire ( I’m not convinced on this one given the array of shades used in their creation), being made by prisoners of war (again, I’m not so sure) and as having been available to buy as a kit to “make your own”.  But however they were made and whoever took the time to make them, one thing for certain is that I shall go on enjoying collecting them and I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing them :o) 

Friday 2 December 2011

We have labels!!

We have labels!!!! 


650 labels - that's a lot of knitting to do!!

After 2 weeks of designing and going back and forth to get just the “right” green, the labels are here and we’re more than a little chuffed with them!! 

What do you think?

We’ve been making our custom knitwear for 5 years now and have dithered as to whether we should put labels in or not.  Since putting images of our knitwear on Flickr and receiving an unbelievably positive response, we felt we really better get our name in our knitting!

It took a while to decide what we wanted but in the end we went for a 1940’s font and a little design on the bottom, hand drawn by yours truly J  The first one has just gone into a jumper which will shortly be heading to Canada – I’m very pleased with how it looks.

The first one is in........649 to go :-)

Work is ongoing on more orders than I dare look at, but I can’t wait to get some more finished to sew the new labels into!

Better get knitting! x

Friday 14 October 2011

Vintage Felt Corsages

Back in April, I designed an anemone corsage having taken inspiration from some amazing shades of felt that I bought at my local craft shop. 

This is my little anemone displayed on one of our hand knitted jumpers (please excuse the bookcase in the background!!)



My anemone :-)


I'm very proud of it and, now the weather here is a lot colder, it has graced my purple winter coat and it looks brilliant!  I sold over 40 of these little posies over the summer so I'll be busy preparing more when the evenings draw in.


I collect original 1940's sewing and knitting patterns as well as magazines from the time.  At an auction in June, I was very lucky and picked up a large lot of 1930's and 1940's ladies magazines.  In one from 1941, there was a pattern for this "English marigold" corsage.   



I made a couple of tweaks from the original because I needed it to be a little more durable than the pattern suggested.  It's great because all of the stems are wired so the flowers can be arranged into a proper little posy that really stands out on a lapel.


Last but not least is this unusual corsage, also from an original pattern.  I used the colours as suggested in the pattern and although it may not show from the picture, it was a fiddly little thing to do as the tiny flowers are only 4mm across - I didn't enjoy making it but once I start something I can't bare to be beaten by a pattern so I had to see it through to conclusion!!  You can be certain of one thing, this little beastie is a one off - I won't be making another one!



I hope you like them :-)  I have a few more designs in the pipeline - I'll let you know how I get on!!


Monday 10 October 2011

Vintage button love :-)

I have a thing for vintage buttons and I'm not ashamed to admit it :-)  For the jumpers I knit and the dresses Mum sews, we try to use vintage buttons whenever possible.

I'm always looking out for new buttons to add to the ever increasing stash.  Sometimes I'm lucky and stumble across some in a charity shop or at a car boot sale but in my neck of the woods, such finds are few and far between.  That's why I squealed with delight when I happened across a wonderful seller with more vintage buttons than you can shake a stick at! 

I seriously could have bought all the stock she held but I was sensible (much to my husbands amazement!!) and I considered each purchase carefully and only bought those that I thought I could actually make use of.  I came away with a modest 16 sets and once I'd paid for them, I couldn't wait for them to arrive.

Well, today was the day!!!  My poor postie, I couldn't get them out of his hand quickly enough and I wasn't disappointed!  Inside my nicely packed parcel were the following little lovelies.....

All on original cards - I have plans for the white ones on the right already......

More on their cards - the brown ones are destined for a brown cardigan I have an order for.

Green, my favourite colour - I couldn't leave these little gems behind ;-)

Love the turquoise frilly ones - and the ones on the top left come from France! 

These little yellow ones will be adorning a dress shortly.

Last but not least.....


I hope you will agree that they are really rather pretty and I simply can't wait to use them!!

Back soon with a post about my latest knitting project :-)


Thursday 29 September 2011

Vintage Fashion Shoot - Nene Valley Railway

After the 1940's event at Ramsey, we were approached by Lisa Miles, a Cambridge based fashion photographer, to do a vintage fashion shoot at the Nene Valley Railway


The shoot took place on Monday, and here are just a few of the brilliant shots!!!!!

Model: Lauren Worby,   Hair: Louise Walsh,   Makeup: Jo Gooding, Clothing: hat & dress 1940's Style For You, shoes models own

Model: Gail de Lara,  Hair: Louise Walsh,  Make-up:  Jo Gooding.  Clothes: original CC41 crepe dress

Model: Kimberley Thompson,  Hair: Louise Walsh,  Makeup: Jo Gooding - 1940's black net party dress

Model: Michelle St,  Hair: Louise Walsh,  Makeup: Jo Gooding, Clothing: 1940's American blouse


Model: Michelle St, Hair: Louise Walsh,  Makeup: Jo Gooding, Jumper handknitted by ME :)

Model: Lisa-Jayne Arbon,   Hair: Louise Walsh,   Makeup: Jo Gooding,  Clothing: original 1940's walking suit

Model: Lauren Worby,   Hair: Louise Walsh,   Makeup: Jo Gooding,  Clothing:  handknitted jumper, 1940's original hat

We had a brilliant day and the images speak for themselves really - hope you like them :-)  Check out Lisa's website for more photographs!!!! :)


Back soon!!

Monday 19 September 2011

Little Vintage Lover

Sunday the 11th September saw us heading off to our first event at a Little Vintage Lover Fair. 

Up at 5am, we drove the 70 miles to Creake Abbey where the event was being held.

Although Little Vintage Lover Fairs are well established, this was our first time trading with them and what a wonderful time we had. 

We saw a few familiar faces and were next to Faded Splendour.  They have a wonderful collection of vintage items, as well as beautiful corsages, all handmade – check them out here. 

Despite my best intentions, I didn’t manage to get photos of the event because we were busier than I’d imagined but below are some snaps of our stall…….

A little of our stock.

Add caption



The new owner of the zig zag jumper knitted from a 1940's pattern!


It was fantastic to be in a venue with people love vintage as much as we do!!  It was well organised with a great atmosphere and we hope to be invited to another fair in the future.

In the mean time, check out Little Vintage Lovers website here where you can see when the next fair is - it's worth a visit!

Back soon!!








Tuesday 6 September 2011

My new project.......

Now the summer holidays are over and my husband has headed back to school, I’ve begun work on the first order I took at the recent Ramsey event. 

The pattern in question is this pretty little number from the 1940’s.






I’ve knitted it before in rose mist and it’s a really feminine, delicate knit - it’s a very easy pattern too which is always a bonus!!   This time, the chosen colour is Stylecraft cream in 4 ply. 

I’m very lucky that I have a wool shop less than 2 miles away so last week I headed off to pick up these little lovelies.




I’m like a child in a sweet shop when I’m choosing wool and often take home far more than I went in for!!

Now despite what the pattern tells me to do, I always start on the sleeve – always have and probably always will!! J   I like to start this way because it allows me to check my tension and then when it comes to the actual body of the jumper, I can adjust it to fit the customer perfectly. 

This lovely jumper is knitted on size 12’s and size 10’s.  I cast on the sleeve on Sunday and managed to finish it last night.  I’m pleased with how it’s turned out.  It looks a little bumpy in the photograph because I haven’t pressed it yet but it will look much better once done.





This jumper is due to be collected at the North Norfolk Railway 1940’s event on the 17th and 18th September.  If you’re in Norfolk that weekend, come and check it out, it’s a great event – probably my favourite!  

Will keep you updated with the progress of the jumper!

Friday 2 September 2011

My Mum and Cath Kidston!!!

Long before we began 1940’s Style For You, my parents were 1940’s re-enactors.  Not just dressing up and attending 1940’s events, but serious, in character re-enactors imparting their vast knowledge of the 1940’s on the paying public.  They have been fortunate enough to be seasoned re-enactors at some wonderful locations including Wimpole Hall, Anglesey Abbey, Kentwell Hall and Gressenhall Museum in Norfolk. 
 
At these wonderful living history events, they become Ivy and Norman Baker.  Norman is an active member of the Home Guard and Ivy flits between the fields as a member of the Land Army, or can be found in the kitchen, making tea with the WVS.  They have great passion for what they do and they go to great lengths to make sure that everything is accurate and the clothing is original, whenever possible.  

In May, at the Kentwell Hall 1940’s event, Mum and some of the other re-enactors were interviewed by a nice lady from the Cath Kiston magazine curious to find out what kick started the hobby for them. 

I LOVE this magazine......


Mum thought nothing more of it, and then a couple of weeks ago she was contacted by Cath Kidston to say the article was to be featured in this months magazine and would she like  a copy.   Would she like a copy?  Silly question me thinks!  This is a picture, albeit a very poor quality picture (thank you camera), of my Mum, aka Ivy, in said magazine.
Ivy in the WVS dress bottom right.



The magazine is available online here and you can zoom and read the article/take a closer look at my Mum. 
She’s made very little of it but given my love of Cath Kidston, and of course my Mum, I think it’s fantastic and have been telling anyone who’ll listen!! 
Back soon,

Sunbeam

Thursday 25 August 2011

My first post - Ramsey 1940's Weekend!

So, I’ve been browsing all your lovely blogs for a while now and thought I’d give it a go myself!  What better way to start than to tell you about the brilliant time we had at the Ramsey 1940’s event on the 20th and 21st August. 
We arrived on the Friday to begin setting up our stall.  This is the only bit of the event that I dislike.  It’s hard work and the sun was burning hot.  For one who turns into a lobster easily, the sun is not my friend!  However, by 4pm, the stall was ready and although we were shattered, we were incredibly excited about the weekend ahead. 
My 2 little girls had a fantastic weekend and loved dressing up and walking round with their Granddad. 
Granddad and my 2 little ladies.

We were really pleased when we got home to find someone had taken a snap of my youngest and added it to Flickr  One very pleased Mummy!

The event was brilliant.  They had military and civilian vehicles, a spectacular air display, a fair, a very patirotic parachute drop, some brilliant re-enactors, a vintage bus (much to the delight of my bus mad husband!) Lola Lamour and much, much more.  My favourite display had to be the CC41 clothing - simply stunning. I’ve never seen so many CC41 items in one place.   I could have taken them all home!! 





I love the Ramsey event and have been trading there for the last 5 years.  The atmosphere at the Upwood site was always excellent and we were a little anxious about the unknown entity of the new site but I have to say it was BRILLIANT!  From the moment we arrived, we felt at ease.  From a trading point of view, everything had been thought of.  We had a great spot, there were plenty of facilities and the staff were very helpful. 

It’s very much pot luck as to who you pitch beside, but we were very lucky and ended up beside the very friendly owners of Vintage in Vogue in Cambridge and their beautiful dog Norman who was a big hit with my little girls!  Check them out on Facebook or visit their shop in Cambridge – well worth a visit.  
A huge footfall of 12,000 attended the event and everyone I had the pleasure to meet was enthusiastic about the way everything had been done.  The camp was brilliant, the atmosphere in there was amazing.  There was something for everyone and it was surprising how quickly the time ticked by.  We were incredibly busy and took 6 jumper orders.  The needles will be clicking away in the my household shortly. 
While most traders headed home on the Sunday night, we, along with a handful of others, decided to stay a final night and were treated to this amazing sunset......


I cannot praise the staff at Ramsey enough and from our point of view, the event at the new site was better than those held previously at Ramsey.  A date for you diary is 19th and 20th August 2012. 
I’m now busily working away on all the knitting orders while preparing for our next event at the Little Vintage Lover fair at Creake Abbey Studios on the 11st September.  If you’re free, come and check it out!
Back soon,
Sunbeam x